The Pittsburgh Pirates will look to avoid an eighth consecutive loss against the Milwaukee Brewers Friday night.
Thursday, the Pirates fell 6-4 in 13 innings. A.J. Burnett made his return to action for the first time since July. He earned a no-decision after allowing three runs in five innings. Burnett allowed all three of his runs in the first inning, increasing his second-half ERA to 11.12. By the end of his start it was down to 9.00.
The loss also ended a 19-game winning streak for the Pirates bullpen. The last time the Pirates bullpen lost a decision was June 25.
“I’ve never been a part of anything close to that,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “It’s phenomenal and last night we held them for 11 innings and they didn’t score a run. We missed our opportunities.”
Tonight, Charlie Morton [8-7 4.07 ERA] will face Jimmy Nelson [11-11 3.86 ERA].
Morton is making his 20th start of the season and is 1-1 against the Brewers in two starts this season. He is 3-7 with a 4.27 ERA in 13 lifetime starts against the Brewers. In his last start, Morton allowed two runs [one earned] in six innings, taking the loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Nelson is 4-1 against the Pirates with a 1.72 ERA in five starts, all of which came this season. In his last start, Nelson allowed five runs on nine hits in a loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
Seventh inning stretch: Starling Marte is not in tonight’s lineup after he was hit by a pitch with discomfort in his left shoulder. Josh Harrison will start in his place.
“I feel better today,” Marte said. “Last night I couldn’t do anything but today I feel better. I’ve got a big bruise so I won’t start today but maybe in the middle of the game I can do something.”
In his pregame meeting with the media, Hurdle was unsure if Marte would be available off the bench as the team was hitting in the indoor cages following the press conference.
Chris Stewart is in the lineup tonight after Francisco Cervelli caught all 13 innings in last night’s game. He posted a 2.31 catcher’s ERA in 44 appearances behind home plate this season. Stewart is batting .300 in his 21 games at PNC Park and the team is 13-1 in his 14 starts at home.
Bottom of the ninth: Prior to tonight’s game both the Pirates and Brewers will pause for a moment of silence to remember the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Family members of Flight 93 victims will be recognized in a pregame ceremony.
Hurdle was in Arizona at the time of the attacks.
“I don’t know how my parents felt the day JFK was shot, but I imagine that’s what I would have looked like,” said Hurdle. “I remember looking at my mom and dad’s face and they looked out of sorts. I was working out and not having a headset or anything like that, and I went back to my room and flipped on the Today Show in Arizona. I was sitting at the side of the bed and I was out of sorts. To understand in the time off, the gut for what happened, the lives affected, the consequences for four days was overwhelming.”
Andrew McCutchen is the eighth player to produce at least 150 home runs and 150 steals in his first seven seasons in the major leagues. He joins Willie Mays, Bobby Bonds, Darryl Strawberry, Eric Davis, Barry Bonds, Alfonso Soriano and Matt Kemp… Pirates starters have combined to allow seven earned runs in 42 innings over the course of the past seven games… Vance Worley gave up one unearned run over eight innings for Triple-A Indianapolis to earn a win. The Indians lead 2-0 against Scranton Wilkes-Barre… Josh Harrison has hit safely in 14 of his last 16 home games against the Brewers… Since 2010, Pedro Alvarez has 19 home runs against the Brewers which is the third most behind Cincinnati’s Jay Bruce [22] and with McCutchen [21]… Joe Blanton has been charged with one run in his last 21.1 innings of work.
Photo credit: Fred Vuich/AP Photo
